Former Nicolet teacher accused of sexual abuse found dead

Two days after news broke about a former Nicolet High School teacher accused of sexually abusing at least two students decades ago, he was found dead in the garage of his Waupaca home Wednesday.

The Waupaca Police Department said it was called at 12:29 p.m. to the Park Vista Retirement Living complex about a man, identified as 81-year-old David R. Johnson, who had hanged himself in his attached garage.

Officers confirmed the hanging. The death remains under investigation, although police do not suspect foul play.

Earlier this week, Nicolet High released the results of an internal investigation on Johnson, who taught at the school for more than 30 years.

The school hired an attorney to conduct the investigation after a man who was a student at Nicolet in the early 1980s informed current Superintendent Robert Kobylski and School Board President Libby Gutterman of the alleged abuse.

The investigation concluded that Johnson sexually abused the student, as well as at least one other student.

Johnson taught mathematics at the school from 1958 to 1991 and also supervised two student organizations, Kobylski and Gutterman said in a letter to alumni.

After the former student came forward, the school contacted the Glendale Police Department but was told the alleged abuse was beyond the statute

of limitations for prosecution.